Friends

They talked and talked while the tea turned cold and the cookies disappeared from the table. They speculated about how the factions were divided and whether there would be any direct confrontations or back-stabbing, assuring each other that they would be alright after everything calmed down.

The talk about the crown's future ceased after they ran out of nobles to discuss, the last one being whether Lord Pontague, the old lord of Timisa in the south-east of the country was still alive or not.

"He's still alive, Iris. I'm on my way there with a present from my grandmother. She and the former lady of Timisa were good friends and she wouldn't like if her husband were forgotten on his own birthday."

Iris looked fondly at Elisabeth, not wanting to let her go just yet. "When is his birthday?"

"A week from now. My grandmother sent me in advance to make sure I'll be there in time, but I doubt lord Pontague even cares about such matters."

"Then stay here! Let's spend some more time together before returning to your journey!"

"I would love to spend more time here, but…"

"No buts, Ellie, please stay for a few days. I'm sure Benjamin won't disagree."

Elisabeth nodded and accepted to spend a few more days at Buri castle.

"On my way here, I've heard news of a spring festival down in town. Maybe we could take a look, what do you say?"

"A spring festival? That would be great, Ellie! When is it?"

"Tomorrow or the day after that, I'm not sure as I wasn't paying much attention because of someone who got me worried…"

She looked at her friend between her eyelashes, her lips pursed, but Iris just laughed and waved it away.

"You got worried on your own. But now that you're here, we'll have so much fun together even if only for a few days."

"Just until after the festival. The next day I must go or else my grandmother will be most displeased with these affairs."

Only two or three days, but there was more than enough to catch up and spend precious time together so Iris was pleased. She called for William to prepare a room for her while she went to talk to Benjamin about her friends spending time there.

"Lady Larossi? It must be a delight to see your friend after such a long time. Of course it's not a problem if she stays here. She can stay as long as she pleases!"

"Oh, thank you Benjamin! I knew you'll agree!"

"You don't have to thank me, this is your home now as much as it is mine."

She gave him a rushed hug and a small kiss on the cheek before turning to the door to leave.

"Invite her to dinner tonight! It would be a pleasure to see her again!"

Iris beamed at the idea and nodded before leaving him to his work. As soon as she left, she instructed the butler to announce the kitchen to prepare dinner for three that evening and to prepare two skilful maids for Elisabeth to help her, besides the maids who usually travelled with her.

She then went to her study to wrap up her work there for the next few days so that it would just take a few minutes for her to fix if needed. After going back to her room, she instructed the maids to prepare a bath and a new set of clothes. After scrubbing her whole body, Mary and Daisy, accompanied by little Eira, dried their mistress' hair and clothed her in a beautiful deep blue dress emphasizing her eyes.

Iris chose only a few simple jewels for that night before going straight to the dinner hall where, to her surprise, Benjamin was already waiting for them. Not long after, Elisabeth also arrived and all three sat at the table, Benjamin at the end of it with the two women on both sides.

They drank fine wine and ate the best dishes the kitchen prepared, while chatting and gossiping about the latest news and trendiest persons in the capitals. Iris listened mostly as the other two were telling the most recent stories and filling each other with what they knew.

"And you say that the rumours about the king are all over the capital?" Benjamin inquired, wide-eyed at the news.

"Indeed, it's so shocking now that I heard you telling us about his well-being before you left. Do you think someone planted the news?"

"If so, who? And what do they want to achieve?" Iris wondered.

"They want power, most likely," Benjamin answered, and Elisabeth nodded. "The one who can get immediate power by such news is prince Julius. But what about in the long run?"

Elisabeth grimaced at the words. "In the long run? Isn't he the one who is going to become king if no other heir is named? By the succession law, the eldest inherits the throne, right?"

"Right. But the second prince has a lot of support and people won't accept him as a king if they find any connection between his ascension and his father's possible death."

Iris could not believe her ears. She knew little about the first prince, but murder and of his own father at that. But it was her friend who reacted first. "You mean that prince Julius has indeed plotted something?"

"That's just the thing! While I was in Moesia to aid him, he only showed concern for the people and not for ruling. He did a good, selfless job and it would surprise me if he'd do something so lowly as killing his own father. And stupid as well, because everyone will suspect him."

"Maybe he has the power to silence them." Iris pounded on whether enough houses swear to him.

"Does he?" Benjamin raised the question as if provoking them to show him how. "Prince Alwyn has the support of at least three very powerful houses out of nine. Two are at this table." He reached his wine towards his wife and her friends. "Possibly four if the rumours that he reached out to the beast lord. And three houses are neutral, myself included. That results in only two houses being in the first prince's party. A quick loss, if you'd ask me."

Iris saw reason in his answer and nodded before looking at Elisabeth who wasn't very convinced. Not wanting to spend the rest of the evening talking about war, she changed the subject quickly.

"What about Lord Pontague?"

"What about him?" Elisabeth asked, a crease forming between her eyes. "He's neutral from what I know."

"No, no," Iris giggled. "Isn't it his birthday next week, maybe we should send a present as well."

"The old fox?" Benjamin laughed before starting a story about how his father went hunting once with Lord Pontague and both got lost from their servants in a try to race each other to their prey.

The rest of the evening went smoothly and Iris felt she might have drunk a little too much, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by her husband who asked to be excused to bring her to their chamber. So they said their good night to Elisabeth and went, hand in hand to bed.